Soccer Friday: Your Running Commentary

World Cup qualifying springs back into action on Friday, with no less than 34 matches to be played around the world.

Many of the big powers in European soccer face some of the minnows, including England hosting Moldova, France visiting Georgia, and the Netherlands visiting Estonia. However, there are a few intriguing matchups on tap, with Scotland hosting Belgium, Germany facing their neighbors Austria, and Finland, who drew Spain, 1-1 in Gijon, hosting La Roja.

In South America, Argentina get the matchday off but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good games to watch. AS Monaco duo Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez look to take Colombia joint top of the table when they face Ecuador at home while Luis Suarez plays his first competitive match since the Confederations Cup, due to his suspension with Liverpool.

Later in the evening, CONCACAF draws the spotlight, especially with a crucial match between Mexico and Honduras at Estadio Azteca, with Honduras threatening to become the first team to beat El Tri in a World Cup qualifier in the famous stadium.

I did not realize that Jamaica replaced their coach in July and brought in a journeyman German, Winfried Schäfer. He has made some major personnel changes to the team, giving pardons to some guys the previous coach had kicked off the team and bringing in some guys who play in England’s second league, who inexplicably the previous coach had not called up. I had basically counted Jamaica out, but who knows. If they would pull of upsets the next two games, this could get very interesting.

Was looking at the Concacaf WCQ table and saw that something very interesting could happen for the final game in October when the USMNT plays Panama. If Panama collects some points the next three games and Mexico stumbles, it could end up being a situation that going into the last game Panama will be ahead of Mexico on points with the USMNT already safely qualified. That would mean Mexico would be praying for a USMNT victory over Panama in order to qualify for the World Cup. Can you imagine Mexico cheering for the USMNT?

I did not realize that Jamaica replaced their coach in July and brought in a journeyman German, Winfried Schäfer. He has made some major personnel changes to the team, giving pardons to some guys the previous coach had kicked off the team and bringing in some guys who play in England’s second league, who inexplicably the previous coach had not called up. I had basically counted Jamaica out, but who knows. If they would pull of upsets the next two games, this could get very interesting.

i haven’t done the math on that, but they are going for 4th place and one article I saw says 3 wins and a draw would maybe guarantee it and with the right equation possibly two wins and two draws, which would only be 10 points. This story shows how tough Panama will be tonight. they want the win bad also.

Heartbreak form Bulgaria in Palermo today. In a typical fashion, the Italians scored from their only chance on goal and then defended to preserve the lead. Go on youtube and see for yourselves, Buffon made a couple of sick sick sick saves to preserve the 3 points for Italia.

Now: all hell ensues in this group: with Armenia winning consecutively in Praha and Kopenhagen, Bulgaria has nightmarish last 2 games (assuming we win in Valeta, Malta on Tuesday): in Erevan/Armenia and then v. the Czechs in Sofia.

4 teams stuck within 1 point as it stands.

I am devastated about losing to the Italians. Bulgaria deserved at least a point there…

Playing Italy hurts, it always does. I can guess what kind of game it was. They just chipped and fouled and poked their way until time was out. The good news is.
Bulgaria’s future is in their hands. Its not easy but you still have control. Winning 3 is hard though.